Don’t spoil lovely island by littering

I was horrified at the amount of plastic and polystyrene that was being constantly blown into the sea, most of it packaging from food purchased at the Island View Kiosk.

Mostly children were buying takeaway food, eating it by the pool and then leaving the packaging, where it was quickly swept into the sea or picked up by gulls. Most food came in plastic and I was even more amazed to see polystyrene chip boxes with smaller polystyrene pots inside for sauce. There were bins by the cafe but nothing next to the pools.

Could a cafe so close to the water, where staff could clearly see all this happening right in front of it, not put out more bins or at least rethink its chip boxes to paper at the very least? Have the kids had no education, or do they not care, about the state of our oceans?

I did mention it to the cafe owner, who basically told me to get lost.

This was in massive contrast to the magical experience we had just moments before when we had been paddleboarding in the bay and been surrounded by dolphins.

Come on Guernsey, this is basic stuff to maintain your most beautiful of islands.

PAUL AND CLARE WHITE

Editor’s footnote: A spokesman for Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services replies:

Agriculture, Countryside & Land Management Services is grateful for the opportunity to respond to this letter about takeaway packaging and litter at the bathing pools.

Two large wheelie bins are provided for litter at the entrance to the Ladies’ Pool as this area is above the high-tide mark and there are additional bins, as the writer notes, near the cafe. Several coastal kiosk tenants are choosing to use biodegradable or compostable packaging for takeaway food purchases and are willing to refill drinks cups brought by customers. Conscious of commitments to reduce unnecessary single use plastics to help combat the problems caused by coastal and marine litter, ACLMS is working with States Property Services to introduce a requirement where kiosk lessees provide biodegradable or compostable packaging for takeaway food and take reasonable steps to minimise plastic use in their establishments.

However the onus of responsibility for the disposal of food packaging – whether brought to the site or bought there – remains with the purchaser and it’s worth bearing in mind the fixed penalty fines for littering.

We would ask everyone enjoying the pools to take particular care to collect their rubbish together and put it in one of the bins provided as they leave the area.

The vast majority of people of all ages take great pride in the appearance of their island, many are choosing to litter pick voluntarily around the coast and other public areas. It is shame that just a few can so easily let us down and we sincerely hope that the next time this family comes to Guernsey that they enjoy a much better experience at the bathing pools.